Sometimes you just need to get away. Even if it's only for a day. Because the thought of one more report, one more "urgent brainstorming" meeting with the boss, one more phone call from an irate client, and you're thinking thoughts that could get you 10 to 20. Time to call in for a mental health day.

That's why SOYJOY came up with their Daycation challenge, to get guys everywhere to take a short break from the madness and recharge. And they invited me to step away from my keyboard, turnoff my cell phone and get away for a day. So they sent me a Daycation pack that had all the gear for getting away, including: a digital camera, some sunblock (which I wouldn't need... you'll hear about that in a minute), a great cooler bag that chills in the freezer so there's no need for ice (that will get its share of work for years to come), a SOYJOY water bottle, towels, tshirts and a whole bunch of SOYJOY nutrition bars.

Why take SOYYJOY bars on a day trip? Couple of reasons: they are baked and have real fruit and whole soybeans for on-the-go nutrition, and most importantly, they won't melt in your pack on your way to the beach, trail, or for a day on the water... which is what I chose to do for my getaway. Only I chose to do it during hurricane season, in South Florida, as the remnants of Tropical Storm Lee were hitting...

Here's what happened: I mentioned to my buddy I was going to take my girl for a day of kayaking down the Intracoastal through Fort Lauderdale. Maybe stop on one of the many islands, have some lunch, a few drinks, a SOYJOY bar or two, then paddle back. Leave civilization behind. He's got a better idea: He has a "buggy boat" and we can take it to the Deerfield Island Park. It's only accessible by boat, really secluded, there's nature trails, a place to have our lunch... and with his boat, my girl won't need to paddle. Perfect. Except the only day we can organize it, we are having the typical Florida on-and-off thunderstorms. He assures me no weather is coming. We'll be fine. He was in the Coast Guard, so I take his word for it. Bad move. We got soaked. In a small boat with no cover. Fortunately my girl took it in stride, the SOYJOYs stayed dry, and we had a great time. Beat sitting at my computer.

To get the story, see the pics. Then head over to SOYJOY's Facebook page to enter your own Daycation, and have a shot at winning some prizes of your own. I'll still be drying out my gear from my trip.

This is my buddy's Buggy Boat. It's more like a large, floating storage container with seats bolted to it.

My girl asking, "Do you seriously think that thing is going to hold us?" It did.

My buddy is showing me how to use the motor/rudder/drink mixer. I've got a blender that's bigger.

Here's the weather we were about to encounter.

We finally made it to the park... soaked. But made it.

Seems there were a few more people out on the water in the rain.

The pack got wet, but the food stayed (relatively) dry.

We did get to see some wildlife. If that looks blurry it's because it was shot in a downpour. Next time, I'll plan my daycation in the sun.